M14x or something more pricey?

I've been debating on whether to get an alienware or spend way more and get a sager 8150 with a 6990 graphics card. If I go with alienware, I could spend the extra money to get an ssd, get battlefield 3, and a nice gaming mouse. Are you guys satified with the m14x? Any issues? My main concern is being able to play BF3 and possibly save a LOT of money! I also need to have a good laptop for school. My gateway fx finally crapped out on me after 3 years. I've been tortured with overheating issues for a whole year and now it's time to throw it out.

 

I have the most upgraded Alienware m14x possible as far as the options on the official website go (I have not made any personal modifications after purchase).

The one major issue with the m14x is that it has an upper-middle class graphics card (NVIDIA GT 555m) rather than an upper class graphics card. I have been able to play Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins, all source games (Team Fortress 2, Counterstrike Source, etc.). Many people on here are playing Crysis 2 and Battlefield 3 with at least medium-high settings.

However, I have tried playing The Witcher 2 with the default/stock graphics driver and it simply does not play well on high and that game has such beautiful graphics that I feel I am missing out if I cannot play it on high settings at least.

I find myself wishing I had bought the Alienware m17x instead for its larger screen and upper class graphics card. However, I am walking for 2 miles everyday with this laptop so the portability is better than m17x. Also, I have read that the m17x is awkwardly large -- so much so that it should basically remain at home. The m14x still looks like a normal size laptop and does not draw strange looks from people on first glance.

My advice is that the m14x is solid, and the only issues are (1) the screen size (and its low "gamut" whatever that means) and (2) the fact that the graphics card does not max out the most demanding games (which are pretty much meant for desktops anyway, or the m18x).

So if you want to max out Battlefield 3 without any doubt I would suggest m17x unless you need something smaller and lighter, then the m14x should at least play Battlefield 3 at medium-high settings according to what I have read on this forum.

 

If I were you I'd get the more performance and go with a laptop that has the 6990 you mentioned.

 

If you would like to play BF3 really good, and don't need portability, battery life, etc, get the sager. Cant ever go wrong with an amd 6990m, am i right?
The m14x is good and all, but you lose gaming power for portability, which is good for the people who want that. But it can play bf3 on med settings only. Maybe high if you dont mind the lag.

 

If you bring your laptop around alot and want some battery time, the m14x is the way to go. If not, the Sager seems like a great portable desktop type deal. My friend says with an overclock of 750/1080 he plays BF3 all high settings, 1366x768, shadows medium and SSAO/HBAO off @ 35-40fps

 

I used to have an M1710 when that was top of the range with its 7950GTX card. it blitzed everything in its path. But it was V heavy, so it wasnt really portable. So much so it got replaced by a gaming pc. As whats the point of having a laptop you cant move? But now i have gone back for an M14x. i know not all games will run on max ultra mega mode. But thats not a bad price to pay for having portability so i can take it around easily!

 

For similar prices you could grab an MSI GT780R or GT780DXR. I was seriously considering it before I bought my M14x, but decided I valued actually having a laptop instead of a 17" desktop more.

 

I too looked at the MSI ones. they look good, but when i saw the discount possible for alienware (current £820 from £1400 after cashbacks and discounts) i went for the flashy lights and build quality along with a great price!